Widow of chain-smoker wins record damages from US tobacco firm

Euronews

The widow chain smoker Michael Johnson, who died of lung cancer at age 36, has won record damages from one America’s biggest cigarette makers, R J Reynolds.

Cynthia Robinson claimed that the company concealed the health dangers and addictive nature of its products. She was awarded 23 billion dollars, the equivalent of around 17 billion euros, by a jury in the US state of Florida.

Her husband, a hotel shuttle bus driver, smoked one to three packets of cigarettes a day for more than 20 years, starting at age 13, according to Cynthia Robinson’s solicitor.

R J Reynolds tobacco company plans to challenge the verdict. Such industry appeals are often successful.